MS and Sony: Exclusives aren't important

Platform exclusives are no longer a driving force in the market, says Microsoft and Sony.

There was a time, back with the original Xbox and the PlayStation 2 and Gamecube, when platform exclusives were the most important thing about a console. It was a time when you invested your cash solely on the basis of which games you liked the look of - were you such a Resident Evil fanboy that you'd go for a Gamecube over an Xbox, or did Metal Gear Solid rock your boat more towards the PlayStation 2?

Nowadays though, exclusives aren't such a big deal - or at least, that's what Sony and Microsoft reckon based on the current sales trends.

Xbox Germany product manager Boris Schneider-Johne echoed comments made by PlayStation Europe boss David Reeves last week, saying that platform exclusives were no longer a driving force in the market.

"In the past, in the eighties and nineties, that was a major issue. I remember the big ‘Mario vs. Sonic’ debates. What we see today is that the influence of exclusive titles on the sales curves becomes ever smaller,” said Boris in a recent interview with Golem.de.

“In addition, we are in a situation that there is a head-to-head race on several consoles and that nobody is super clear in leadership - especially in matters of the PlayStation 3 against Xbox 360.”

“Given the production costs of the games, it is hardly possible for developers to commit itself exclusively to someone. Now Sony makes its own games for the console, we make our own games for the console. The titles are exclusive, as they are also attempts turnout the best of the console, but someone like Electronic Arts or Activision can have a business model of rarely developing for a console exclusively. Therefore, the exclusive title is a little less important.”

Hm, fair does then. The question is though, what is important to you when you choose a platform these days? Let us know your thoughts in the forums.

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19 Comments

I'm sure they hold some importance, I know for me the only reason I bought my Xbox/Xbox360 was PGR as I was an MSR fan and I couldn't get these on other platforms though I suppose I bought buggerall else bar Forza for these platforms really so not their ideal consumer.

i don't think its so much that exclusive games aren't playing a large part, but more that people are now owning multiple consoles. myself and many of my friends game on at least 2 platforms, and a few even have all 4 (PC, 360, PS3 and Wii), whereas if you go back a few years many people only owned one console

Originally Posted by Narishmabiebiep: Gears of War 2 won't sell new Xbox360s. Those who are interested in the game already have one.

im interested in the game, and i only have it on PC.

they are just selling it to make the public think MS or Sony aren't paying big moneys for exclusive, but in actual fact, every exclusive they have to pay for is probably worth just as much as selling for multi-platform.

Originally Posted by sotu1ok so the important question is: if exclusives aren't the key factor to deciding which console to buy (and imo they are) then what is?

currently i can only think of a few factors:
Blu ray compatability
RROD avoidance
how much you like to waggle a stick

How about how much the console costs. How long the console will be supported (content/firmware-wise). Is there support for wired or wireless peripherals? What is the cost of online play & extra peripherals. Does it support open-standards. Is there backwards compatibility? What are the quality/quantity of games? Is there an ability to browse the internet or install another OS for the use of other functions.

What they say hold "some" truth but exlusive titles are important too. I got the xbox 360 because I wasnt impressed with the ps3's lineup or the hardware as it seems some games were badly coded on it (pro evo 08 for example, yet its fine on the xbox 360)

If there is anything that drives me to get a ps3 then thats metal gear solid and that alone.

The xbox has Gears of War and Halo and everything eles is pretty much multi-platform anyways.

Exclusives are important - it just depends how good they are really, I wouldnt be surprised if Gears Of War 2 increased xbox 360 sales a fair amount as that game is going to blow people away I reckon...